NEW Cardiff City idol David Marshall has revealed how hours of watching DVDs of Leicester penalty takers was the secret behind the Bluebirds’ stunning play-off triumph.

Marshall stopped efforts from Yann Kermorgant and Martyn Waghorn to set up Cardiff’s £90m Wembley showdown with Blackpool for the Premier League big time.

And the Scottish goalkeeper disclosed how City’s success was down to detailed pre-match planning, rather than what everyone calls the lottery of a penalty shoot-out.

Cardiff goalkeeping coach Martyn Margetson and assistant manager Terry Burton collated details of every Leicester penalty taken over the last few seasons just in case Wednesday night’s semi-final tie came down to spot-kick drama.

They told Marshall who Leicester’s likely penalty takers would be, including Waghorn and Steve Howard, where the ball would be put, and whether it would be placed or struck with power.

Marshall noted how Waghorn had scored two previous penalties this season, on each occasion slamming the ball high to the goalkeeper’s left.

So he automatically went that way deep into the night at the Cardiff City Stadium to make the decisive stop which sent Bluebirds fans into delirium.

“I think Martyn Margetson, the goalkeeping coach, has to take some of the credit for the last penalty,” beamed Marshall.

“Waghorn has taken his last two penalties in the identical spot and Mags said to me that he was pretty confident that he would go that way again... and he did.

“We also knew from the DVD that he would hit it with some power and fortunately I managed to get there to stop it.

“It capped what was without a doubt the best night of my career, especially with people close to me flying down from Scotland to see the match. I don’t think they could go through that again!

“It came down to penalties in the end, but it was the outfield players who were the real idols, not me.

“They were the ones who scored the penalties to build the pressure on Leicester players.

“I was only there with a 50-50 chance of doing something in the penalty shoot-out.

“To come back and win the tie showed unbelievable strength of character from the outfield players.

“I was gutted when we went 3-1 down on the night because I feared we would be on the ropes at that point.

“But Peter Whittingham was as cool as you like to score from a penalty in normal time, we were lifted by that and the fans were excellent.”

Marshall says Cardiff will spend the next few days doing their homework again, this time on Blackpool, ahead of the May 22 at Wembley clash.

The two teams have drawn 1-1 on each occasion in the league this season, but Marshall declared: “ When the dust settles and the celebrations are over, there is one simple thing to remember. There is no point going through this and not winning that final.

“For the next week or so we will be watching videos and concentrating our training on Blackpool and it should be another great game.

“What we can’t do is start putting pressure on ourselves too early. We can’t control what other people say or think and they will probably label us as favourites for the final.

“The only thing we can do is control the training and the build-up to the final, a game we know will be tight.”

If the final also goes to penalties, City will be ready again.

Goalkeeping coach Margetson, a former Manchester City No 1, said: “When I was playing we were just handed bits of paper. But these days, we are able to give goalkeepers every possible bit of information they need.

“Technology enables us to tell them everything, about penalties, corners, free-kicks, who takes them with their right foot, left foot, you name it.”

City’s top scorer Peter Whittingham faces a fitness fight to be ready for the Blackpool game.

He came off against Leicester with a groin problem and needs treatment ahead of the Wembley date.

Bluebirds boss Dave Jones hopes City have given the Welsh people an even stronger sense of pride after the rollercoaster semi-final, second leg triumph against Leicester.

Cardiff last competed among England’s elite back in 1962, while fierce rivals Swansea did so in 1983, and Jones knows how much promotion would mean to a country considered by many as traditionally rugby mad.

He said: “You saw the response at the end from these fans.

“The Welsh are very proud people and I hope we’ve given them something to be even more proud about.

“This club has come a huge way, but we’ve still got a huge way to go.

“I’m proud to be manager here and I appreciate everything that has gone on. The fans made it a special occasion for us.

“My first two years at this football club were about remaining in this division and then the next three years have been about progression.

“Sometimes it’s been difficult, but we’ve just dug deep. I think everybody in this club deserves a slap on the back.”

In contrast, Leicester manager Nigel Pearson was left to reflect on a night of disappointment.

But he said: “I will reflect on the bigger picture, we’ve made great strides this year. For it to come to a penalty shoot-out is a pretty tough one.”